To the Editor:
An Egyptian company, Orascom, proposes to build a mega-fertilizer plant on 318 acres of prime, preserved farmland located just two miles east of Walcott.
It’s hard to imagine the actual size of this project except when you compare it to being approximately the size of the ENTIRE town of Walcott.
Please attend the Aug. 28 meeting of the Scott County Board of Supervisors at North High School in Davenport to express your objection to this proposed plant being built on some of the best farmland in
the world.
This land was put into preservation in 1991 to prevent just this sort of assault. Land that had been part of a century farm and that is surrounded by generational-owned farms. Once this land is gone, it’s gone forever.
We’re told that if this plant is built, there won’t be night because it will be illuminated all night long. That will interfere with crop production on farms surrounding this huge plant. Noise pollution will also be a problem. This land is a gift from God. Are we not stewards of the land?
This plant would be built two miles from Walcott Elementary, which has a student body of over 600 children. The plant would use anhydrous ammonia, urea and ammonia nitrite. These can be very dangerous chemicals. Should an accident occur, the evacuation plan is to shelter in place. These children are God’s precious gift to us. Should we allow their safety to be compromised?
The proposed project could receive $1.2 billion from the Midwest Disaster Bonds (part of the Federal Heartland Disaster Tax Relief Act of 2008). This program was intended to aid companies with rebuilding after being damaged in 2008 flooding. The proposed 318-acre site in Scott County was not in any flooding area. The soil can’t speak for itself. We can.Patricia BareWalcott

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